Our series of weekly NASCAR driver interviews continues with Jimmie Johnson, the five-time Sprint Cup Series champion and current points leader who won Saturday's race at Daytona. USA TODAY Sports spoke with Johnson prior to the race.

Q: From what you can tell, whose driving style is the most similar to yours?

A: Man, it's so hard without having another guy's data. I'd say out of our group, it seems like (Dale Earnhardt) Jr. Our throttle traces seem to be very similar in what we're doing.

I think from a mindset standpoint in racing, there's a lot similar with Matt (Kenseth) and I, but I don't think we have exactly the same driving style. Like at Bristol, he and I couldn't drive the track any more differently. And there are other times when I'm around him where I can see his throttle inputs and the way he drives are just different. But there's a mindset that's very similar.

Q: Do you collect any of your own memorabilia, such as diecasts, firesuits or helmets?

A: Firesuits and helmets, absolutely. I do have samples from all the trinkets and diecasts and all that stuff that's made, but that's more of a formality than something I'm really passionate about. But helmets I'm definitely passionate about and hang onto them and trade them occasionally. And then I have a great archive of all of my suits.

Are the suits on display somewhere?

A: They're not on display, I just have them. The warehouse I have, it's just a big room and they're all cataloged in there. It's pretty cool.

Q: What percent of success in NASCAR has to do with the driver, what percent is the team and what percent is luck?

A: God… (Thinks for a moment) The driver and car would take a large majority of it. Luck can certainly get you, but you don't luck yourself into having a fast car and you don't luck yourself into using your head and driving right. Luck seems to work against you when you're unlucky.

The journey that a driver and a crew chief have to develop the car, that part probably needs to be in there, too. That's really where the meat of the thing is — in that relationship and how those two work.

A: Man, it is so tough to pick one, because I've had a lot of people help me. I guess if I didn't meet Stan, Randy and Bill Herzog and start driving for them in their off-road truck, none of this would have happened. If the Herzogs didn't take me off-road racing and then decide to go ASA racing, I don't know how I would have made the transition from dirt to asphalt.

And then from ASA, they created that Nationwide team — which got me noticed by Jeff (Gordon) and Rick (Hendrick). So they've got the biggest stake in it all.

Q: You come into contact with so many people during a race weekend who want a piece of your time — your team, sponsors, fans, media. How do you decide how to prioritize those demands and divide it up?

A: When I came in, I just really took Jeff's template and applied that. We used Jeff's framework to set up our sponsor interactions and when we would do autograph signings and things like that. He fortunately already had a lot of success and understood what worked for him, and I took that on and it's really worked well for me.

Even down to little things like we won't leave the racetrack once the track is hot — like for a suite visit or out for autographs. There were a lot of requests: "Can you do two or three hospitality visits between practice and qualifying?" But then your head is not in the game; it's not where it needs to be.

Q: I often hear fans say something to drivers like, "Hey, do you remember me from an autograph session three years ago?" So it's clear fans want to be remembered. Without getting too crazy, what is something a fan could do to be remembered by you?

A: For me, there are very cool fan moments where someone just wants a photo or an autograph, and it's a very cool exchange. But there are other times when maybe an avid fan, their excitement almost makes it uncomfortable. When there's a cool connection like, "Hey man, I'm a fan!" You're like, "Cool, thanks!" And there's some level of conversation which makes those experiences a lot better.

So some people can take it a little too far?

Over the top, yeah. It's intimidating for everybody. I'm sure it's intimidating for them to see who they are so excited to see, but when you're that person, you're like, "Whoaaaa! What's going on?" (Laughs)

A: (Thinks for awhile) I can't think of anybody I've crashed this year. I know I've been caught up in things, but as far as the origin of the crash...hell, I don't know.

But I find it takes me more time to set somebody up and knock them out of the way than it does to just pass them. And I learned that early in my career. To even try and move somebody — in ASA, I tried it a few times and failed miserably. I spun them out, it took me out and we both hit the fence. I'm like, "Well, that didn't work." So I'd just as soon pass someone.

We don't see you mixed up in too many intentional wrecks.

I don't really think I've just wiped somebody out. I know in Nationwide, I tried to wipe Matt out after he crashed me. It was at Dover. I waited for him to come back around, I got the car running and I put it in gear and I dumped the clutch to harpoon him.

But the rear framework was bent down so far that my rear tires were off the ground — and I didn't know it. So when I dumped the clutch to take off, I didn't go anywhere — I just got on the rev limiter. I was like, "ARGHHHHHHHHH! GO, GO!" (Laughs)

Q: Who is someone you used to clash with in the garage, but now you get along with them after putting incidents behind you?

A: Matt is a good example. When I was in Nationwide, he was kicking everybody's butt and I think he and I had two or three run-ins where I came out on the losing side of it. We were all hanging out in Chicago for the Chase stuff last year at our On The Road party (to launch Johnson's coffee table book) and I teased him about it.

We were having some drinks and chilling out, and somehow in conversation it came up. I threw Matt under the bus, and he had totally forgotten, couldn't remember, had no idea and was thoroughly taken aback. He was like, "Really? I did all that?" I'm like, "Yeah. You did. I can tell you it was at Dover and it was at Homestead and Phoenix." (Laughs) So we got a good laugh out of that. But I guess it was more one-sided, since it didn't even register for him.

The most recent one, though, is with Kurt (Busch). We're not hanging out on the weekdays and socializing, but we're back to respecting one another. He and I sat down and talked last year a couple different times and we were able to connect throughout this year as well. That's one I literally thought would come to blows, it was getting so bad. But it's turned around.

Q: What's the best racing-related movie?

A: Senna. That movie is insane. For me, On Any Sunday — if people are into motorcycles — was such a classic when I was young. I'm not sure if you've seen it.

I've never heard of it, actually.

It's phenomenal. So good. Especially if you have a motorcycle background. There's a big section in there based on Steve McQueen, which is really interesting, and a variety of motorcycle racers — flat-track racers, motocross. There's a part on Malcolm Smith where he goes to Europe and rides in these rally trail ride things, which is really interesting. I'd say On Any Sunday was No. 1 forever in my mind, but when Senna came along, that took it to a whole new level.

Jimmie Johnson was honored for his Sprint Cup championship by President Obama at the White House on Aug. 19, 2009. Johnson was previously feted by former President George W. Bush.
Andrew Harrer, Bloomberg

Jimmie Johnson, right, and crew chief Chad Knaus kiss the bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after winning the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in 2008. Johnson has four career wins at the Brickyard.
Geoff Burke, Getty Images for NASCAR

Jimmie Johnson shares a laugh with Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, then Speaker of the House, during a visit to Capitol Hill on Feb. 5, 2007. A reporter asked if he was a Democrat or Republican. The Speaker changed the subject.
Tim Dillon, USA TODAY Sports

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Q: What's your song of the moment right now? What's something you find yourself listening to frequently?

A: My daughter (Evie, 3) has full control of all that now. And honestly, the song that is stuck in my head that she walks around singing — which is crazy — is a Taylor Swift song where she says, "We will never get back together." That's the chorus she knows. So to watch my 3-year-old daughter singing about a breakup with a boy she's never going to get back together with, it's just freaking me out, to be honest. I'm like, "This is way too early for all of this!" (Laughs)

Q: Define yourself without NASCAR. Who are you away from the track and the racing?

A: I keep learning more about myself. I'm a guy that needs structure. I'm a very competitive person. Clearly, I'm able to be competitive on the weekends and race, but I need more than that during the week. I like to be competitive against myself and push myself.

I tried golf, but that's a social event. I can't be competitive in that space; I just don't have it. So training has been a nice outlet because I'm only competing against myself. Sure, I'll go to some of these events and hit a goal or finish well — I've been able to win my age group and placed ninth overall in the last triathlon I did — which is very rewarding. But all that led into that, I just enjoyed being competitive against my own times and trying to do a little better each week. I'm far more competitive than I give myself credit for off the track.

And then I just love being connected to my wife (Chani) and my daughter. That nucleus is so important to me and it really balances me all out. When baby No. 2 comes (a girl due in September), that'll add another level to it all.

Q: I've been asking each driver to give a question for the next interview. Last week was Jeff Burton and he wanted to know: "If you could make one rule change on the Gen 6 car, what would it be?"

A: I would open up the side skirt rule and not have a minimum height requirement on the side skirts.

What would that do?

I think it would open up some options in the rear suspension package and what you do. Right now, we're all very focused on getting the car to travel and getting it down (to the track surface) and trying to seal it up — because the (aerodynamic) advantage is so great. Before, we had a few more inches and we're down quite a bit.

If you opened that back up and didn't have a minimum and let people find the home they wanted to, it might create some different approaches to set up the car and not just pin you down on one setup where we're all following each other.

Q: And do you have a question for the next interview? It's with Regan Smith.

A: Yeah, definitely. I'd like to know about Greg (Ives, Johnson's former race engineer) coming over (to be Smith's crew chief). I've known Greg as an engineer and not being the leader of the team. Now I'm curious about what he thinks of Greg in that leadership role.

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JIMMIE JOHNSON'S THREE FAVORITE APPS

-- Camera Plus. I enjoy photography, so I have a variety of camera apps.

-- Strava is a cool app for training. It tracks what you do and there's a social side where you can connect with friends.

-- TrainingPeaks. That's the one my coach has me set up on. It's really good from a coach to athlete training situation. It just loads it up and it sends me a daily e-mail of what my workout is, or I can just click on the app and go right to it. He'll have whatever I'm supposed to do in there, and I can come in and fill it out and make comments, what my times were, what my distance was.